Group One Winner for Dream Ahead

Tara Madgwick - Monday August 14
Top class three year-old colt Al Wukair provided Aquis Farm shuttler Dream Ahead (USA) with his first Group I winner overnight when taking out the Group I Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in France.

Third to Churchill in the Group I English Two Thousand Guineas and then a last start second in a Group III contest at Maisons-Laffitte, the Andre Fabre trained Al Wukair has been working up to a big win.

Despite racing greenly in this one mile contest, Frankie Dettori was able to get the best from Al Wukair, who had his head in front on the line to win narrowly from the Godolphin pair Inns of Court and Thunder Snow.

"He had a setback and twisted an ankle, but I've always believed in him," said Andre Fabre.

"I think the QEII at Ascot will be next for him. We've the option to go a bit further, but let's see what the owner says. He's in the Champion Stakes too, but I think the Irish Champion Stakes could come a bit soon."

Dream AheadA 200,000 guinea Tattersalls October Yearling Sale purchase, Al Wukair runs for Al Shaqab Racing and has the impressive overall record of four wins and two placings from six starts.

He is the best of three winners from Macheera, a Machiavellian daughter of French Group I winner Caerlina.

Al Wukair has the honour of being the first Group I winner for Champion Sprinter and Champion 2YO Dream Ahead and is the best of 10 stakes-winners by the five-time Group I winner.

Dream Ahead was the leading Australian Second Crop Sire last season by stakes-winners with four to his credit in Dreams Aplenty, Generalissimo, Awaken and Ken's Dream.

Interestingly, three of those stakes-winners are from daughters of Redoute's Choice, so Dream Ahead has proven himself as an outstanding outcross sire that really works!

Dream Ahead stands this spring at Aquis Farm (previously Emirates Park) in the Hunter Valley at a fee of $19,800.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
21st Stakes-Winner for Dream Ahead
Aquis shuttler Dream Ahead (USA) sired his 21st stakes-winner on Boxing Day when progressive sprinter Sensei scored a tenacious win in the Listed Hazlett Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand bringing a terrific pedigree update for his yearling half-brother headed to the 2019 Magic Millions.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
More Stakes Success for Dream Ahead Sprinter
A last start third in the Group I Ascot British Champions Sprint Stakes, classy Dream Ahead sprinter Donjuan Triumphant gained some consolation when taking out the Listed Wentworth Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday.
Dream Ahead's Renewal Opens Stakes Account
Honest, Dream Ahead (USA) gelding Renewal defied the pattern of the day when he came from the tail of the field to earn a maiden stakes win in Sunday’s Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Kiwi Sprinter to Target Oakleigh Plate
Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman has never been afraid to travel his horses in search of lucrative prizemoney and the right conditions.
Shumookh Opens Her Stakes Account in a Thriller
After chasing home the likes of D'argento, Alizee, Unforgotten and Shoals home in the autumn, Emirate Park’s royally-bred Dream Ahead (USA) filly Shumookh fought like a tiger to edge Champagne Cuddles in Saturday’s $400,000 Group II Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.